Bird Guide

Two-barred Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

Least ConcernOmnivoreForestCup nestSmall · 29 g

About the Two-barred Crossbill

The two-barred crossbill or white-winged crossbill is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and the Palearctic.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The two-barred crossbill is 14.5–17 cm (5.7–6.7 in) in length and weighs 25–40 g (0.88–1.41 oz). It has short legs, a forked tail, a crossed bill and two prominent white wing-bars. The male of the nominate subspecies has forehead, crown, nape and upper-parts bright raspberry-red. The scapulars are black or blackish brown with pink edges. The upper tail coverts are black with white fringes. The female lacks the pink and instead has greenish-yellow head and upperparts.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Two-barred Crossbill sounds like

Recording: Max Karlsson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Doug Hynes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Max Karlsson · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where the Two-barred Crossbill lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Japan, Portugal, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia.

When to see the Two-barred Crossbill

Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Red Crossbill vs Two-barred Crossbill · Pine Grosbeak vs Two-barred Crossbill · Parrot Crossbill vs Two-barred Crossbill

Learn the Two-barred Crossbill in BeakBrain

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